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EP4255861B1 - Procédé d'effacement d'un marquage laser de plaques de verre et procédé et appareil de marquage et de démarquage de plaques de verre, de préférence de plaques de verre de base, de préférence encore de plaques de verre flotté - Google Patents

Procédé d'effacement d'un marquage laser de plaques de verre et procédé et appareil de marquage et de démarquage de plaques de verre, de préférence de plaques de verre de base, de préférence encore de plaques de verre flotté

Info

Publication number
EP4255861B1
EP4255861B1 EP21807003.5A EP21807003A EP4255861B1 EP 4255861 B1 EP4255861 B1 EP 4255861B1 EP 21807003 A EP21807003 A EP 21807003A EP 4255861 B1 EP4255861 B1 EP 4255861B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
marking
laser
glass
glass sheets
erasing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP21807003.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP4255861A1 (fr
EP4255861C0 (fr
Inventor
Thomas Rainer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hegla Boraident GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
Hegla Boraident GmbH and Co KG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hegla Boraident GmbH and Co KG filed Critical Hegla Boraident GmbH and Co KG
Publication of EP4255861A1 publication Critical patent/EP4255861A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP4255861B1 publication Critical patent/EP4255861B1/fr
Publication of EP4255861C0 publication Critical patent/EP4255861C0/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
    • C03C23/00—Other surface treatment of glass not in the form of fibres or filaments
    • C03C23/0005—Other surface treatment of glass not in the form of fibres or filaments by irradiation
    • C03C23/0025—Other surface treatment of glass not in the form of fibres or filaments by irradiation by a laser beam

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to methods and devices for marking and de-marking glass panels, preferably base glass panels, preferably float glass panels.
  • the invention also relates to methods for erasing a laser-induced marking from glass panels, preferably base glass panels, preferably float glass panels, and inventive uses thereof.
  • Base glass sheets represent the starting material or raw material for the production of functional glass or flat glass products, e.g., single-pane safety glass sheets, laminated safety glass sheets, or insulating glazing. Base glass sheets are also flat glass. Flat glass refers to any glass in the form of glass sheets, regardless of the manufacturing process used, dimensions, shape, and finishing. Base glass sheets are therefore raw glass sheets.
  • the base glass panels are also usually made of silicate glass.
  • Float glass sheets are flat glass produced using the float process.
  • the float glass process is a continuous manufacturing process in which molten glass is continuously poured from one side onto a bath of liquid tin. The glass mass floats on the molten tin in the form of a continuous, distortion-free float glass ribbon. At the end of the float bath, the float glass ribbon enters a cooling channel, where it is slowly cooled to room temperature. The glass ribbon is cut into raw glass sheets, e.g., 600 x 321 cm in size, and then transported to the glass processor, who then uses it to produce insulating glass panels, toughened safety glass panels, or laminated safety glass panels.
  • the float glass process has been used industrially since the 1960s and has since largely replaced most other methods of flat glass production or the production of raw glass sheets.
  • Ornamental glass also called cast glass or textured glass
  • the textured rollers produce glass with a more or less heavily ornamented surface on one or both sides.
  • the Fourcault glass process is a method for producing transparent window glass using the drawing process.
  • the molten glass flows through a rectangular nozzle embedded in the glass and is immediately caught laterally by a trap and drawn vertically upwards. Pairs of rollers convey the solidifying glass mass through a vertical cooling shaft.
  • the manufactured base glass sheets particularly float glass sheets
  • a marking that contains specific information about the base glass sheet.
  • the marking contains information about the quality of the base glass sheet, e.g., whether the base glass sheet has any glass defects and, if so, where.
  • Glass defects can be, for example, bubbles and/or particle inclusions, e.g., metallic inclusions, or streaks or cracks.
  • This information is stored in a database and read by the glass processor, enabling them to process the base glass sheet accordingly, e.g., to position cuts so that the glass defects are removed.
  • the manufactured base glass sheets usually have to be cut to size.
  • raw glass sheets are divided into individual glass sheet blanks. This is done in conventional cutting systems either at the base glass manufacturer or at a downstream glass processor.
  • the glass sheet blanks or the cut glass sheets are 25 preferably further processed in a further processing plant, for example an insulating glass line, a processing plant, e.g. an edge processing plant, or a tempering device.
  • the manufactured single-pane base glass panels can also be processed into laminated base glass panels by bonding two or more single-pane base glass panels together, either at the base glass manufacturer or at a downstream glass processor. If desired, the single-pane base glass panels can be pre-coated with a functional layer.
  • the markings are present, for example, as a character string or in the form of codes, particularly machine-readable ones, e.g. data matrix codes (DCM).
  • DCM data matrix codes
  • Marking is required not only during production, but also during processing of the glass sheets. Marking facilitates the organization of the production process and enables product tracking. The content of the markings is constantly changing. Furthermore, the markings on the base glass should not appear on the final product. This gives rise to the desire for erasable markings.
  • marking is currently carried out using the principle of inkjet printing (applying marking process), with the first marking being applied to the cold end of the produced float glass ribbon before cutting into float glass sheets. Before each subsequent processing step, the marking is removed and then reapplied. This is also done to prevent the marking ink from impairing quality during subsequent processing steps. For example, the ink interferes with the application of functional layers and the production of laminated base glass sheets.
  • the EP 1 735 517 B1 discloses a glazing comprising at least one permanent marking visible from the outside and identifiable by anyone, consisting of a string of characters.
  • the marking represents information that describes the technical characteristics of the glazing, its manufacture or commercial information.
  • the character string comprises a sequence of numbers, each number being encoded in binary or hexadecimal code according to one or more consecutive characters of the marking element.
  • the marking can be done by engraving or printing.
  • the two publications DE 10 2005 026 038 A1 and DE 10 2005 025 982 A1 Laser marking processes for marking glass panels are known: According to the DE 10 2005 026 038 A1 A glass-like layer with metal nanoparticles is applied to the surface of the glass panel using a laser. For this purpose, a donor or carrier medium is brought into contact with the glass panel surface to be marked, and a mark is created on the glass panel surface using laser beam-induced processes.
  • the carrier medium comprises, for example, a PET film which has, for example, a low-E functional coating, which has at least one metallic functional layer.
  • a laser beam is directed at the functional coating and, due to the laser beam irradiation, material from the functional coating is transferred from the PET carrier film to the glass panel surface to be marked.
  • the material adheres to the glass panel surface as a glass-like matrix with metallic nanoparticles, whereby the matrix is formed from the substances originally present in the functional layers of the functional coating.
  • the PET carrier film remains intact.
  • the low-E functional coating of a glass panel is changed in color by laser radiation so that a mark is created.
  • the glass panels with an internal marking, which is located inside the glass panels.
  • the internal marking can be laser-induced, for example (Research Association for Precision Mechanics, Optics and Medical Technology eV, "Investigation of the Material Reaction in Inside optically transparent materials after ultrashort laser pulse excitation: generation of low-stress internal markings (micro-dots).
  • microcracks For example, it is known to create laser-induced microcracks in glass.
  • the resulting structures scatter the light and are thus recognizable as markings and can be read with code readers.
  • the microcracks alter the mechanical properties of the glass panels.
  • color centers volume coloring
  • the internal marking of glass panels due to the formation of color centers is based on the laser radiation creating defects in the SiO2 network. These defects lead to a change in the optical properties, in particular to a decrease in optical transmission.
  • a color center is thus a defect in the SiO2 network that absorbs visible light. Electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range of visible light can be absorbed in a color center, leading to a yellowish-brown discoloration of the glass.
  • lasers with a pulse duration in the picosecond and femtosecond range with wavelengths from 355 to 1064 nm are used. Internal marking using color centers is thermally reversible.
  • the density change is generated by local melting of the material, i.e., a thermal process.
  • Lasers with pulse durations in the picosecond and femtosecond ranges and wavelengths from 355 to 1064 nm are also used to create microdots.
  • Internal marking using microdots is thermally stable. However, it also changes the mechanical strength of the glass, as stresses are generated around the local density change.
  • a method for internal marking of glass for example, in which a laser beam, to which the glass is transparent, is directed onto a surface of the glass.
  • a laser with a pulse duration of 200 fs and a wavelength of 800 nm is used, for example.
  • the laser beam is focused at a location that is at a distance from the surface and is arranged within the glass, so that a high power density is present there.
  • the high power density of the laser beam achieved in this way induces non-linear optical effects of the excitation, resulting in a very localized energy impact in the transparent material.
  • changes in the complex refractive index can be achieved, which creates a marking within the transparent material in the form of an area of changed optical properties.
  • These changed optical properties of the marking produced by the method according to the invention should be limited to changes in the complex refractive index. Microcracks in the component should not occur with suitable settings in this method.
  • the internal marking is permanently retained in a temperature range up to several hundred K above room temperature.
  • the DE 10 2005 057 916 A1 discloses a method for the reversible marking of toughened safety glass, wherein first a desired marking containing metal particles and/or metal ions is produced by means of laser irradiation and can be removed again in a subsequent temperature treatment.
  • the WO 2004/113242 A1 discloses a method for marking glass plates using a laser, creating permanently visible dots below the glass surface.
  • the WO 02/083589 A1 discloses a method for producing colored structures in a glass surface by forming metal-containing nanoparticles that color and thus mark the glass.
  • the publication by Scaffidi Jon et al. concerns a device for laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (spectrometer).
  • Laser-induced plasma spectroscopy can be used to determine the elemental composition of a sample.
  • the sample is bombarded with short laser pulses, a small volume of the sample is vaporized, and ionized into a plasma (laser ablation).
  • laser ablation As the plasma decays, light is emitted that is characteristic of the elements it contains.
  • the spectrum of the radiation is recorded with a spectrometer.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide methods for erasing a laser-induced marking from glass panels, preferably from glass panels, preferably from base glass panels, preferably from float glass panels, which are economical and do not lead to any mechanical impairment of the glass panels.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide methods for marking and de-marking glass panels, preferably glass panels, preferably base glass panels, preferably float glass panels, which are economical and do not lead to any mechanical impairment of the glass panels and allow machine-readable marking.
  • Another task is to provide equipment for carrying out the respective procedure.
  • Laser-induced means generated by laser radiation.
  • the marking can also be done by laser-induced, superficial fine engraving.
  • this marking can also be removed or erased by laser polishing.
  • deletion does not only include a complete removal of the marking, even if this is preferred, but also a weakening to such an extent that the information in the marking can no longer be read.
  • a glass panel 1 to be marked according to the invention ( Fig. 1 , 5 ) has a first and second glass surface 1a;b and preferably a circumferential glass panel edge 1c.
  • the glass panel 1 preferably has only a single or single glass pane 2 ( Fig. 1 ).
  • Each glass pane 2 has two glass pane surfaces 2a;b. If the glass panel 1 has only a single glass pane 2, the two glass pane surfaces 2a;b form the glass surfaces 1a;b of the glass panel 1.
  • the glass sheet 1 to be marked is a base glass sheet or raw glass sheet, preferably a float glass sheet 3.
  • the production of float glass sheets 3 is carried out by producing a continuous float glass ribbon 4, which, after cooling, is cut into the float glass sheets 3. Or rather, the float glass sheets 3 are separated, in particular cut, from the cooled float glass ribbon 4.
  • the float glass ribbon 4 always has a free, cold end 4a.
  • the marking of the float glass sheets 3 is carried out during production by applying the marking to the cold end 4a of the produced Float glass band 4 is inserted into the float glass band 4 before cutting into float glass sheets 3.
  • the marking can be incorporated into the respective base glass ribbon using other manufacturing processes.
  • the marking of the base glass sheet in particular the float glass sheet 3, can also be carried out after separation from the glass ribbon.
  • the glass sheet 1 to be marked may also be a glass sheet 1 that has already been further processed, e.g. a single-pane safety glass sheet or a multi-pane insulating glass sheet or a cut-to-size laminated glass sheet, in particular a laminated safety glass sheet (LSG sheet).
  • a glass sheet 1 that has already been further processed, e.g. a single-pane safety glass sheet or a multi-pane insulating glass sheet or a cut-to-size laminated glass sheet, in particular a laminated safety glass sheet (LSG sheet).
  • LSG sheet laminated safety glass sheet
  • a laminated glass panel is known to consist of several interconnected glass panes 2 (not shown).
  • Laminated glass panels are a laminate of at least two individual glass panes 2, each bonded to one another by means of an adhesive intermediate layer made of plastic, in particular a highly tear-resistant, tough, thermoplastic film.
  • the two outer glass pane surfaces 2a;b each form the glass surfaces 1a;b of the glass panel 1.
  • the glass panes 2 of the laminated glass panel are preferably at least partially tempered glass panes 2. In this case, the marking is applied to the interior of one of the glass panes 2.
  • a multi-pane insulating glass unit consists of at least two glass panes 2, between which there is a cavity that is sealed gas- and moisture-tight.
  • the glass panel 1 or glass pane 2 can have a superficial functional coating 5 on one of its two glass surfaces 1a;b;2a;b.
  • the functional coating 5 can have one or more individual functional layers. If there are multiple functional layers, this constitutes a functional layer laminate.
  • the functional layers change certain Properties of the glass panel 1 or give it certain functions. The functions can be, for example, heat protection, sun protection, or heating.
  • the functional coating 5 is preferably a wavelength-selective or low-E coating.
  • the functional coating 5 is not removed before the intended use of the glass panel 1, but is still present even during the intended use of the glass panel 1.
  • the functional coating 5 of the glass panel 1 generally has at least one metal-containing functional layer. This is preferably a metal or a, preferably ceramic, metal oxide layer.
  • the functional coating 5 of the glass panel 1 thus has at least one metallic and/or at least one, preferably metal-containing, ceramic functional layer.
  • the functional coating 5 preferably has a thickness of ⁇ 2 ⁇ m, preferably ⁇ 1 ⁇ m.
  • the glass panel 1 can also have a known protective coating 6 in the form of a removable protective film or a polymer protective layer on one of its two glass surfaces 1a;b. This is particularly the case if the glass panel 1 has a functional coating 5 that still needs to be cured and needs to be protected.
  • the protective coating 6 protects the functional coating 5 arranged underneath.
  • a laser-induced internal marking 7a is first created in the glass panels 1 and then removed again using laser radiation.
  • the removal or erasure of the internal marking 7a is performed using laser radiation in a wavelength range that is absorbed by the color centers.
  • Fig. 1 shows an example of a marking device 8a for producing the internal marking 7a.
  • the marking device 8a has a laser beam generating device or a laser head 9 for generating or providing a laser beam 10.
  • the laser head 9 can be stationary or movable, for which purpose appropriate drive means are provided.
  • the laser head 9 has a laser radiation source 11 and associated laser optics 12.
  • the laser beam 10 is focused by means of the laser optics 12.
  • the laser beam 10 can be pivoted or deflected by means of the laser optics 12 from an initial position in which it is aligned vertically or perpendicularly to the glass surface 1a;b, so that it can scan a scanning field, which will be discussed in more detail below.
  • the laser radiation source 11 generates an ultrashort-pulsed laser beam 10 with a pulse duration in the picosecond or femtosecond range.
  • the laser beam 10 has a pulse duration of 10 -11 to 10 -13 s.
  • the laser radiation source 11 preferably generates a laser beam 10 with a repetition rate of 10 to several MHz.
  • the pulse energy is preferably between a few micro-Jules and ⁇ 1 mJ.
  • the laser radiation source 11 also preferably generates a laser beam 10 whose wavelength is 300 nm to 2 ⁇ m, preferably 533 nm to 1200 nm, particularly preferably 533 nm to 1 ⁇ m.
  • the laser radiation source 11 is therefore preferably a VIS laser or an IR laser.
  • it is also a solid-state laser, preferably a fiber laser.
  • the laser radiation source 11 preferably generates a laser beam 10 whose laser power is 1 to several 100 W, preferably 20 to 100 W, lies.
  • the creation of color centers through volume coloring depends on the appropriate energy density (laser power/area). If a certain energy threshold is exceeded, material is ablated or melted. The energy threshold depends, among other things, on the material.
  • the aim of the method according to the invention is to produce an internal marking 7a that is as high in contrast and as dark as possible in the shortest possible time.
  • the movement of the laser beam 10 during internal marking is preferably carried out by means of the laser optics 12.
  • the laser optics 12 comprises, in a conventional manner, a scanning optics system for moving the laser beam 10 within a scanning field.
  • the scanning optics preferably comprise at least two adjustable mirrors.
  • the scanning field is, for example, 100 mm x 100 mm.
  • the internal marking should be carried out as quickly as possible so that it can also be carried out with a glass sheet 1 moving in a feed direction or a glass ribbon 4 moving in a feed direction V.
  • the feed speed of the glass sheet 1 to be marked or the glass ribbon 4 to be marked is preferably 1 to 80 m/min, more preferably 10 to 20 m/min.
  • the marking can be performed with a stationary or moving laser head 9.
  • the laser head 9 is also moved in the feed direction V during marking, preferably at the same speed as the glass sheet 1 or the glass ribbon 4.
  • the laser head 9 is thus moved along with the glass sheet 1 or the glass ribbon 4. It does not move relative to the glass sheet 1 or the glass ribbon 4 during the marking process. Only the laser beam 10 is moved relative to the glass sheet 1 or the glass ribbon 4 by means of the scanning optics within the scanning field.
  • the laser optics 12 not only influences the scan field, but also directly impacts the marking result. The reason for this is that the laser optics 12 can be used to adjust the size of the laser focus 13, the depth of field, and thus the energy density in the glass.
  • the laser focus 13 adjusted by means of the laser optics 12 has a diameter of 10 to 100 ⁇ m. Furthermore, the laser focus 13 is located between the two glass pane surfaces 2a;b of the glass pane 2 to be marked in order to create an internal marking 7a that is spaced apart from the glass pane surfaces 2a;b.
  • the generated internal marking 7a is preferably a machine-readable code, preferably a data matrix code (DCM), a barcode, or a QR code. However, it can also be a logo, a product ID, or a serial number.
  • DCM data matrix code
  • QR code a QR code
  • the inner marking 7a also preferably has the following dimensions: length Width 2 to 20 mm 2 to 20 mm preferably 2 to 5 mm 2 to 5 mm
  • the inner marking 7a also extends across the entire thickness of the glass panel 1, viewed in the glass thickness direction, i.e., from one glass panel surface 1a to the other glass panel surface 1b. It is thus a 3-dimensional inner marking 7a.
  • a process-specific internal marking 7a the content of which directly reflects the processing step carried out, and/or an end-customer-specific internal marking 7a.
  • the inner marking 7a typically has a yellow and/or brown color and is visible to the human eye.
  • the aim is The aim is to achieve the darkest possible coloring for the best possible contrast. Reading the inner marking 7a can be done in a conventional manner using white transmitted light. In particular, it is done automatically using a reader that is known per se and tailored to the type of inner marking 7a.
  • the generation of the inner markings 7a based on color centers is a predominantly reversible process, meaning that the color centers regress to a greater or lesser extent over time. This so-called recombination occurs spontaneously without external influence.
  • the inner marking 7a can also be erased by targeted, local laser irradiation. It has been discovered that this is particularly possible with laser radiation having a wavelength that lies in the complementary color range to the color of the inner marking 7a. As a result, the laser radiation is absorbed by the inner marking 7a, resulting in the erasure or weakening of the contrast of the inner marking 7a.
  • the laser radiation used in the present case to erase or at least weaken the inner marking 7a thus has a wavelength in the violet, blue, or green spectral range, or in the violet to green spectral range. It preferably has a wavelength of 300 to 575 nm.
  • a demarcation device 14a ( Fig. 2 ) is used, which is structurally designed essentially like the marking device 8a.
  • the demarcation device 14a therefore also has a laser head or a laser beam generating device 15 for generating a laser beam 16.
  • the laser head 15 can be stationary or movable, for which purpose appropriate drive means are provided.
  • the laser head 15 has a laser radiation source 17 and associated laser optics 18.
  • the laser beam 16 is focused by means of the laser optics 18.
  • the laser beam 16 can also be pivoted or deflected by means of the laser optics 18 from an initial position in which it is aligned vertically or perpendicularly to the glass surface 1a;b, so that it can scan a scanning field, which will be discussed in more detail below.
  • the laser radiation source 17 generates a pulsed or continuous laser beam 16.
  • the pulsed laser beam 16 it is preferably a nanosecond laser radiation source.
  • the pulse duration is thus preferably at least 1 ns, preferably several or more ns. However, the pulse duration can also be longer. The pulse duration is thus shorter than in the laser radiation source 11.
  • the laser radiation source 17 is a solid-state laser, preferably a fiber laser.
  • the laser radiation source 17 generates a laser beam 16 with high energy density in order to accelerate the erasing process.
  • the movement of the laser beam 16 preferably occurs by moving the laser radiation source 17 together with the laser optics 18.
  • the laser beam 16 is guided, for example, in the form of adjacent lines over the inner marking 7a to be erased.
  • the diameter of the laser focus 19 can also be so large that the inner marking 7a only needs to be passed over once or not at all, but only illuminated, since the irradiated area is as large as the planar extent of the inner marking 7a.
  • the movement of the laser beam 16 can also be carried out by means of a scanning optics as described above.
  • the demarking should also be carried out as quickly as possible so that it can be performed even with a glass sheet 1 moving in a feed direction. This can be done analogously to the marking described above. However, demarking can of course also be performed on a stationary glass sheet 1. In this case, the laser head 15 is also preferably stationary.
  • the laser focus 19 is arranged, analogously to the marking, between the two glass pane surfaces 2a;b of the glass pane 2 to be marked.
  • the laser focus 19 can also be located on the glass panel surface 1a;b or the glass pane surface 2a;b.
  • the laser focus diameter is preferably 50 ⁇ m to 500 ⁇ m.
  • the advantage of the method according to the invention is that both the marking and the erasure of the marking can be carried out quickly and cost-effectively and without any noticeable change in the mechanical properties of the glass panels 1.
  • the glass is not macroscopically altered.
  • the glass panel 1 can thus be marked and unmarked as often as desired without sustaining mechanical damage.
  • the method is therefore reversible.
  • it is also advantageous that the glass panel 1 is only exposed to laser radiation locally in the area of the inner marking 7a to erase the marking, and the entire glass panel 1 does not have to be heated. This also significantly reduces the stress on the glass panel 1.
  • a surface marking 7b is first created on the glass panels 1 by laser engraving, wherein the surface marking has a penetration depth of ⁇ 10 ⁇ m, and is subsequently removed by laser polishing.
  • Laser radiation is used for the laser polishing that lies in a wavelength range that is absorbed by the glass panel surface (1a).
  • the surface marking 7b is a 2-dimensional marking.
  • the glass sheet 1 to be marked is ablated at the glass sheet surface 1a using laser radiation.
  • laser radiation Within the scope of the invention, it has now been discovered that it is also possible to remove an engraved surface marking 7b if it is a micro-engraved mark.
  • the micro-engraved mark is created by non-thermal material removal from the glass surface 1a using ultrashort pulsed laser radiation. In particular, an interaction with the electrons of the network converters takes place, which leads to material removal.
  • the engraved surface marking 7b has a penetration depth of ⁇ 10 ⁇ m, preferably ⁇ 5 ⁇ m, preferably ⁇ 2 ⁇ m.
  • Fig. 5 shows, by way of example, a marking device 8b for generating the surface marking 7b.
  • the marking device 8b is designed analogously to the marking device 8a for generating the internal marking 7a, which is why reference is made to the explanations therein, including with regard to the laser parameters.
  • the laser focus 13 is focused on the glass panel surface 1a to be marked.
  • the energy density is higher. In particular, it is so high that material removal occurs.
  • the degree of this energy density depends, among other things, on the material.
  • the surface marking 7b is erased by laser polishing.
  • Laser polishing is based on the absorption of laser radiation in a thin superficial layer of the glass sheet 1, so that near-surface temperatures just below the evaporation temperature. This heating reduces the viscosity of the glass, so that the roughness flows out and is smoothed due to surface tension. Thus, smoothing occurs through remelting, not through material removal. This allows laser polishing to achieve, among other things, an advantageous very low micro-roughness.
  • Fig. 6 shows, by way of example, a demarking device 14b for erasing the surface marking 7b.
  • the demarking device 14b is designed essentially analogously to the marking device 14a for erasing the inner marking 7a, which is why reference is made to the relevant explanations.
  • the laser focus diameter is also 50 ⁇ m to 500 ⁇ m, as is the case with the erasure of the inner marking, so that large-area erasure is also possible.
  • the laser focus 19 is always focused on the glass panel surface 1a.
  • the laser radiation source 17 generates laser radiation which lies in a wavelength range which is absorbed by the glass panel surface 1a or glass pane surface 2a.
  • it Preferably, it generates a laser beam 16 whose wavelength is ⁇ 330 nm or ⁇ 4.8 ⁇ m.
  • the laser radiation source 17 is a UV laser or an IR laser.
  • the laser radiation source 17 is preferably a CO2 laser or a CO2 laser.
  • CO2 lasers typically generate laser radiation with a wavelength of 10.6 ⁇ m.
  • CO2 lasers typically generate laser radiation with a wavelength of 4.8 to 8.3 ⁇ m.
  • the laser power is preferably between 1 and several hundred watts.
  • Another advantage of the second method according to the invention is that both the surface marking and the erasure of the area marking 7b can be carried out quickly and cost-effectively and without any noticeable change in the mechanical properties of the glass panels 1. If anything, the material removal during engraving is minimal and no thermal stresses are generated. The micro-engraving therefore also has almost no influence on the strength of the glass. The glass panel 1 can thus be marked and unmarked as often as desired without suffering mechanical damage. The method is therefore reversible. In particular, it is also advantageous that, in order to erase the area marking 7b, the glass panel 1 is only exposed to laser radiation locally in the area of the area marking 7b on the glass panel surface 1a, and the entire glass panel 1 does not have to be treated. This also significantly reduces the stress on the glass panel 1.
  • the erasure of the inner marking 7a or the surface marking 7b can be easily integrated into the respective manufacturing or processing process. This is especially true for continuous processes.
  • a marking 7a;b is applied at the end of the manufacturing process by the base glass manufacturer, and the marked base glass sheets are then delivered to the glass processor.
  • the processor reads the marking 7a;b and removes it before the next processing step, e.g., cutting or coating with a functional layer, and then, if desired, applies a new marking 7a;b. This can be done as often as desired.
  • the marking 7a;b is then no longer present on the final product.
  • the original marking 7a;b can also be deleted by the base glass manufacturer if he further processes the base glass sheets, e.g., already divides them.
  • the manufactured single-pane base glass panels can be used, for example, can also be provided with a functional coating 5 at the base glass manufacturer and/or processed into laminated base glass panels by bonding two or more single-pane base glass panels together.
  • the original marking 7a;b can be erased and a new marking 7a;b applied before delivery to the glass processor.
  • the original marking 7a;b it was discovered that it is even possible for the original marking 7a;b to not need to be erased before applying the functional coating 5 and/or producing laminated base glass panels, as it is not disruptive.
  • the surface marking 7b is also not disruptive, as it has such a shallow penetration depth that it is filled by the film of the laminated base glass panel, and a functional coating 5 can also be applied to the marked glass panel surface 1a.
  • any type of glass sheet can be treated using the methods according to the invention, for example, not only standard float glass, but also low-iron float glass.
  • glass sheets 1 made of silicate glass are preferably marked.
  • the methods according to the invention also ensure high process reliability through adaptive contrast adjustment to the optics/illumination combination used by the respective reading device. This allows the read rate to be optimized.
  • the internal markings were then actively weakened or completely erased using laser radiation.
  • the ns laser (532 nm) used for this purpose exhibited the following properties: Laser power 50 W Repetition rate 200 kHz Scan speed 2000 mm/s
  • Figure 4 shows, by way of example, a measured absorption spectrum of the color centers of an internal marking produced according to the invention with high contrast, as well as the absorption spectrum of the internal marking after further laser treatment and the absorption spectrum of the original glass.
  • the internal marking initially exhibits a distinct absorption band at 425 nm and a slightly smaller A band at approximately 550-600 nm, here only visible as a shoulder, can be seen.
  • the surface markings were then erased using laser polishing.
  • a continuous CO2 laser (10.6 ⁇ m) with the following properties was used: Laser power 10 W Scan speed 2000 mm/s

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
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  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Surface Treatment Of Glass (AREA)
  • Laser Beam Processing (AREA)
  • Re-Forming, After-Treatment, Cutting And Transporting Of Glass Products (AREA)
  • Thermal Transfer Or Thermal Recording In General (AREA)

Claims (19)

  1. Procédé d'effacement d'un marquage (7a) induit par laser de feuilles de verre (1), de préférence de feuilles de verre de base, de préférence de feuilles de verre flotté (3), où le marquage (7a) est un marquage intérieur (7a) à base de centres colorés,
    caractérisé en ce que
    le marquage intérieur (7a) est effacé au moyen d'un rayonnement laser, où, pour effacer le marquage intérieur (7a), un rayonnement laser est utilisé , lequel se situe dans un domaine de longueurs d'onde qui est absorbée par les centres colorés.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1,
    caractérisé en ce que
    pour effacer le marquage intérieur (7a), un rayonnement laser est utilisé qui comprend un longueur d'onde qui se situe dans le domaine de couleurs complémentaires de la couleur du marquage intérieure (7a).
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2,
    caractérisé en ce que
    pour effacer le marquage intérieur (7a), un rayonnement laser est utilisé qui comprend
    a) une longueur d'onde dans le domaine spectral du violet ou du bleu ou du vert,
    ou
    b) une longueur d'onde entre le domaine spectral violet et le domaine spectral vert,
    et/ou
    c) une longueur d'onde de 300 à 575 nm.
  4. Procédé d'effacement d'un marquage (7b) induit par laser de feuilles de verre (1), de préférence de feuilles de verre de base, de préférence de feuilles de verre flotté (3),
    où le marquage (7b) est un marquage de surface (7b) superficiel, gravé sur une surface de feuille de verre (1a) de la feuille de verre (1), où le marquage de surface (7b) comprend une profondeur de pénétration < 10 µm, de préférence < 2 µm,
    caractérisé en ce que
    l'effacement du marquage de surface (7b) est effectué au moyen d'un polissage au laser, le rayonnement laser utilisé pour le polissage au laser se situant dans un domaine de longueurs d'onde qui est absorbée par la surface de feuille de verre (1a).
  5. Procédé selon la revendication 4,
    caractérisé en ce que
    a) pour le polissage au laser, un rayonnement laser est utilisé dont la longueur d'onde est < 330 nm ou ≥ 4,8 µm,
    et/ou
    b) pour le polissage au laser, un laser UV ou un laser IR, de préférence un laser CO2 ou un laser CO, est utilisé.
  6. Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes,
    caractérisé en ce que
    a) pour effacer le marquage (7a;b), un rayonnement laser continu ou un rayonnement laser avec une durée d'impulsion de ≥ 1 ns est utilisé, et/ou
    b) le marquage (7a;b) est un marquage lisible par machine (7a;b), de préférence un code lisible par machine, de préférence un code Data Matrix (DCM) ou un code à barres ou un code QR.
  7. Procédé de marquage et de dé-marquage de feuilles de verre (1), de préférence de feuilles de verre de base, de préférence de feuilles de verre flotté (3),
    caractérisé par les étapes de procédé suivantes:
    a) Génération induite par laser d'un marquage (7a) sous la forme d'un marquage intérieur (7a) dans la feuille de verre (1) par formation de centres colorés au moyen d'un rayonnement laser pulsé ultracourt,
    b) Effacement du marquage intérieur (7a) au moyen d'un rayonnement laser selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3 ou 6.
  8. Procédé de marquage et de dé-marquage de feuilles de verre (1), de préférence de feuilles de verre de base, de préférence de feuilles de verre flotté (3),
    caractérisé par les étapes de procédé suivantes :
    a) Génération induite par laser d'un marquage (7b) sous la forme d'un marquage de surface (7b) superficiel sur une surface de feuille de verre (1a) de la feuille de verre (1) avec une profondeur de pénétration < 10 µm, de préférence < 2 µm, par gravure au laser au moyen d'un rayonnement laser pulsé ultracourt,
    b) Effacement du marquage de surface (7b) par polissage au laser selon l'une des revendications 4 à 6.
  9. Procédé selon la revendication 7 ou 8,
    caractérisé en ce que
    le marquage (7a;b) est introduit dans un ruban de verre de base sans fin, de préférence dans un ruban de verre flotté (4), pendant le processus de fabrication de la feuille de verre de base, de préférence de la feuille de verre flotté, et la feuille de verre de base, de préférence la feuille de verre flotté (3), est ensuite séparé du ruban de verre de base sans fin, de préférence du ruban de verre flotté (4).
  10. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 à 9,
    caractérisé en ce que
    a) lors de la génération du marquage (7a;b) et/ou de l'effacement du marquage (7a;b), une tête laser (9;15) fournissant le rayonnement laser est fixe ou déplacée par rapport à la feuille de verre (10) ou au ruban de verre de base (4),
    et/ou
    b) lors de la génération du marquage (7a;b) et/ou de l'effacement du marquage (7a;b), la feuille de verre (1) ou le ruban de verre de base (4) se déplace, en particulier dans une direction d'avance (V).
  11. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 à 10,
    caractérisé en ce que
    a) pour générer le marquage (7a;b), un rayonnement laser d'une longueur d'onde de 300 nm à 2 µm, de préférence de 533 nm à 1200 nm, de manière particulièrement préférée de 533 nm à 1 µm, est utilisé,
    et/ou
    b) pour générer le marquage (7a;b), un rayonnement laser avec une durée d'impulsion de 10-11 à 10-13 s est utilisé,
    et/ou
    c) pour produire le marquage (7a;b), un faisceau laser (10) d'une puissance laser de 20 à 100 W est utilisé,
    et/ou
    d) pour générer le marquage (7a;b), un faisceau laser (10) focalisé, est utilisé, où le faisceau laser (10) comprend de préférence un diamètre de 10 à 100 µm.
  12. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 à 11,
    caractérisé en ce que
    a) un marquage lisible par machine (7a;b), de préférence un code lisible par machine, de préférence un code Data Matrix (DCM) ou un code à barres ou un code QR, est généré,
    et/ou
    b) des feuilles de verre (1), qui présentent sur l'une de leurs deux surfaces de verre (1a;b) un revêtement fonctionnel (5) avec au moins une couche fonctionnelle contenant du métal et/ou au moins une couche fonctionnelle céramique, sont marqués et/ou dé-marqués, où la surface de verre (1b) non revêtue est irradiée ou traversée lors de l'irradiation laser.
  13. Dispositif de marquage et de dé-marquage de feuilles de verre (1), de préférence de feuilles de verre de base, de préférence de feuilles de verre flotté (3), de préférence par la réalisation du procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 ou 9 à 12,
    caractérisé par:
    a) Un dispositif de marquage (8a) avec une tête laser (9) pour la mise à disposition d'un rayonnement laser à impulsions ultracourtes pour la génération induite par laser d'un marquage intérieur (7a) dans la feuille de verre (1) par formation de centres colorés,
    b) Un dispositif de dé-marquage (14a) avec une tête laser (15) pour effacer le marquage intérieur (7a) au moyen d'un rayonnement laser qui se situe dans un domaine de longueurs d'onde qui est absorbée par les centres colorés.
  14. Dispositif selon la revendication 13,
    caractérisé par:
    la tête laser (15) est adaptée pour effacer le marquage intérieur (7a) au moyen d'un rayonnement laser qui comprend une longueur d'onde qui se situe dans le domaine de couleurs complémentaires à la couleur du marquage intérieur (7a).
  15. Dispositif de marquage et de dé-marquage de feuilles de verre (1), de préférence de feuilles de verre de base, de préférence de feuilles de verre flotté (3), de préférence par réalisation du procédé selon l'une des revendications 8 à 12,
    caractérisé par:
    a) Un dispositif de marquage (8b) avec une tête laser (9) pour la mise à disposition d'un rayonnement laser à impulsions ultracourtes pour produire un marquage de surface (7b) par gravure au laser avec une profondeur de pénétration < 10 µm, de préférence< 2 µm,
    b) Un dispositif de dé-marquage (14b) avec une tête laser (15) pour effacer le marquage de surface (7b) par polissage au laser avec un rayonnement laser qui se situe dans un domaine de longueurs d'onde qui est absorbée par la surface de plaque de verre (1a).
  16. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 13 à 15,
    caractérisé en ce que
    a) le dispositif comprend des moyens pour déplacer la feuille de verre (1) ou le ruban de verre de base (4) dans une direction d'avance (V) lors de la génération du marquage (7a;b) et/ou lors de l'effacement du marquage (7a;b),
    et/ou
    b) la tête laser (9;15) fournissant le rayonnement laser est fixe par rapport à la feuille de verre (10) ou au ruban de verre de base (4) lors de la génération du marquage (7a;b) et/ou de l'effacement du marquage (7a;b) ou le dispositif comprend des moyens pour déplacer la tête laser (9;15) fournissant le rayonnement laser par rapport à la feuille de verre (10) ou au ruban de verre de base (4) lors de la génération du marquage (7a;b) et/ou de l'effacement du marquage (7a;b).
  17. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 13 à 16,
    caractérisé en ce que
    a) le dispositif comprend des moyens pour le déplacement de la tête laser (9;15) lors de la génération du marquage (7a;b) et/ou de l'effacement du marquage (7a;b) dans la direction d'avance V, de préférence à la même vitesse que la feuille de verre (1) ou le ruban de verre (4),
    et/ou
    b) la tête laser (9) pour la génération du marquage (7a;b) et/ou la tête laser (15) pour l'effacement du marquage (7a;b) comprend respectivement une optique laser (12) avec une optique de scannage pour déplacer le faisceau laser (10;16) dans un champ de scannage.
  18. Utilisation d'un dispositif de dé-marquage (14a) avec les caractéristiques du dispositif de dé-marquage (14a) selon l'une des revendications 13, 14, 16 ou 17 pour l'effacement d'un marquage intérieur (7a) induit par laser sur la base de centres colorés de feuilles de verre (1), de préférence de feuilles de verre de base, de préférence de feuilles de verre flotté (3), selon le procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3 ou 6.
  19. Utilisation d'un dispositif de dé-marquage (14b) avec les caractéristiques du dispositif de dé-marquage (14b) selon l'une des revendications15 à 17 pour effacer un marquage de surface (7b) produit par gravure au laser avec une profondeur de pénétration < 10 µm, de préférence < 2 µm, de feuilles de verre (1), de préférence de feuilles de verre de base, de préférence de feuilles de verre flotté (3), selon le procédé selon l'une des revendications 4 à 6.
EP21807003.5A 2020-12-02 2021-11-03 Procédé d'effacement d'un marquage laser de plaques de verre et procédé et appareil de marquage et de démarquage de plaques de verre, de préférence de plaques de verre de base, de préférence encore de plaques de verre flotté Active EP4255861B1 (fr)

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DE102020215234.9A DE102020215234B4 (de) 2020-12-02 2020-12-02 Verfahren zum Löschen einer laserinduzierten Markierung von Glastafeln sowie Verfahren und Vorrichtungen zum Markieren und Entmarkieren von Glastafeln
PCT/EP2021/080482 WO2022117271A1 (fr) 2020-12-02 2021-11-03 Procédé d'effacement d'un marquage laser de plaques de verre et procédé et appareil de marquage et de démarquage de plaques de verre, de préférence de plaques de verre de base, de préférence encore de plaques de verre flotté

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DE102021215023B3 (de) 2021-12-23 2023-05-11 Hegla Boraident Gmbh & Co. Kg Mobile Laservorrichtung und deren Verwendung sowie Verfahren zur Bearbeitung einer Glastafel

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MX2023006052A (es) 2023-06-06
CA3200690A1 (fr) 2022-06-09
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EP4255861A1 (fr) 2023-10-11
EP4255861C0 (fr) 2025-08-06

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